Out-of-state patient uses Maui Grown Therapies

Maui Grown Therapies has received its first out-of-state medical cannabis patient, one week after the state Department of Health opened registration to visitors.

Kelly Kuperman, 24, of Surprise, Ariz., came to Maui for the first time to celebrate a family member’s recent college admission, the dispensary announced Tuesday. Kuperman is among the first visitors who are beginning to apply for temporary medical cannabis cards while in Hawaii.

The department opened registration to out-of-state patients on March 5. The new system allows patients to apply for and obtain electronic registration cards, giving them access to state-licensed dispensaries for 60 days.

Maui Grown Therapies is one of two licensed dispensaries on the Valley Isle, along with Pono Life Sciences Maui.

Medical cannabis is allowed in 32 other states, four U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. Out-of-state patients must be certified in the medical cannabis program in their home state or territory and have a qualifying medical condition that is also approved in Hawaii. Patients also may apply online up to 60 days before their visit to Hawaii.

Application fees, including processing, are $38.50 for in-state patients and $49.50 for out-of-state patients.

All in-state or out-of-state registered patients are allowed to purchase up to 4 ounces of medical cannabis during a period of 15 consecutive day or up to 8 ounces over 30 consecutive days. No patients can legally possess more than 4 ounces of usable medical cannabis at any given time. Unlike registered in-state patients, out-of-state patients cannot grow medical cannabis.

For more information or to apply online, visit health.hawaii.gov/medicalcannabisregistry/travel/. For a list of qualifying medical conditions in Hawaii, visit health.hawaii.gov/medicalcannabisregistry/debilitating-medical-conditions/.